Camille Naredo

Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a probe into flood control programs nationwide, called by the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) in Quezon City on September 9, 2025. 

Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a probe into flood control programs nationwide, called by the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) in Quezon City on September 9, 2025. The InfraComm is a joint body comprising the Committees on Public Accounts, Public Works and Highways, and Good Government and Public Accountability, chaired by Representatives Terry Ridon, Romeo S. Momo Sr., and Joel Chua.

Article (news)

FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176622311365420251219-dpwh-usec-catalina-cabral-HoR.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a probe into flood control programs nationwide, called by the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) in Quezon City on September 9, 2025. Handout/House of Representatives" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Catalina Cabral attends a probe into flood control programs nationwide, called by the House of Representatives Infrastructure Committee (InfraComm) in Quezon City on September 9, 2025. <em>Handout/House of Representatives</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- Initial autopsy findings on the remains of former DPWH Undersecretary Ma. Catalina &quot;Cathy&quot; Cabral showed she died of blunt force trauma, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.  </p><p>This comes after he ordered the immediate autopsy on Cabral&#x27;s remains, invoking the powers of the Philippine National Police after the Tuba, Benguet had lapses in its operations. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/19/who-was-catalina-cabral-and-how-could-her-death-affect-flood-control-probe-1455">READ: Who was Cathy Cabral, and how could her death affect flood control probe?</a></div><p>&quot;The initial reports show that with all certainty that she died of blunt force trauma. So ang nakita namin ay basag dito (right side of face) niya, likod ng ulo, ang ribs niya ay pumasok sa internal organs at bali &#x27;yung kanyang mga paa,&quot; Remulla said on Saturday. </p><p>&quot;So wala kaming nakitang signs of struggle sa kotse, walang nakita sa skin cells sa ilalim ng fingernails, at wala ring gunshot wounds ang nakita so far,&quot; he added. </p><p>&quot;So far, no signs of foul play,&quot; Remulla stated, noting that based on the backtracking of CCTV footage at the hotel where Cabral stayed, she was alone when she both entered and exited the hotel. </p><p>&quot;Ang interesting doon, at 8 o&#x27;clock in the morning, nauna siyang dumaan doon sa spot kung saan siya tumalon, tumigil na siya roon eh nung umaga pa lang, at tumitingin na siya roon (downwards) &#x27;tas nakita siya ng police, pinaalis sila,&quot; Remulla narrated.</p><p>&quot;Umakyat siya ng Baguio City doon sa Ion hotel. Mag-isa siyang pumasok ng kwarto, an hour later, bumaba siya tapos sabi sa driver niya alis na tayo, saka niya kinuha &#x27;yung buhay niya,&quot; he further noted.</p><p>The DILG chief also disclosed that Cabral&#x27;s spouse has agreed to turn over her mobile phone.</p><p>When asked about the possibility of tampering, Remulla replied: &quot;May forensics analysis naman &#x27;yan so hindi mo pwedeng matanggal lahat &#x27;yan.&quot;</p><p>The former undersecretary passed away Thursday night after an alleged fall into a deep ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/18/former-dpwh-usec-cabral-found-unconscious-after-falling-from-benguet-cliff-police-say-2355">READ: Former DPWH Usec Cabral dies after alleged fall from Benguet cliff</a></div><p>She was allegedly involved in giving lawmakers &quot;allocables&quot; or projects inserted in the National Expenditure Program, a scheme revealed used to corrupt billions of pesos from the national budgets in the previous years. </p><p>The Philippine National Police earlier said Cabral&#x27;s driver, who was last seen with her, is now being treated as a &quot;person of interest&quot; in her death.</p><p>Police said the driver will be examined for up to 36 hours as part of efforts to determine his possible involvement and to clarify the circumstances surrounding Cabral&#x27;s death.</p><p>Acting PNP Chief Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.  said the driver&#x27;s actions, like leaving his employer in a secluded area without her mobile phone and bag, were contrary to &quot;human nature.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tAGqWbekxqE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>An autopsy showed that former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral died due to blunt force trauma, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Saturday. </p>

An autopsy showed that former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral died due to blunt force trauma, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Saturday.

Autopsy showed Cabral died of blunt force trauma, no signs of foul play so far -- Remulla

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Autopsy showed Cabral died of blunt force trauma, no signs of foul play so far -- Remulla

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 20, 2025 04:09 PM PHT

|

Updated December 20, 2025 06:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Maria Catalina Cabral

DPWH

autopsy

Jonvic Remulla

DILG

flood control scandal

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